Vehicle battery cooling system

ABSTRACT

A cooling system for a battery is provided which includes a first tube, a second tube and a middle section which may be formed from an electrically insulating yet thermally conductive material. The first tube and the second tube may each be adapted to transfer coolant from a first end to a second end. The middle section integral may be the first tube on the first side of the middle section and integral to the second tube on the second side of the middle section. The first tube, the second tube and the middle section may be operatively configured to draw thermal energy away from at least one bus bar and corresponding cell tabs for a battery.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to vehicle batteries, and moreparticularly, a cooling system for a vehicle battery system.

BACKGROUND

Large capacity rechargeable batteries are currently being investigatedfor use in electric vehicles. The ultimate feasibility of electricvehicles depends on significantly reducing the associated costs.Reduction in the costs of battery assemblies is particularly importantin this regard.

Lithium ion batteries are an important type of battery technology. Mostbattery assemblies, including lithium ion battery assemblies, include aplurality of individual electrochemical cells. Typically, suchelectrochemical cells include an anode, a cathode, and a separatorpositioned between the anode and cathode. Typically, the anode includesa metal sheet or foil (usually copper metal) over-coated with agraphitic layer. Similarly, the cathode usually includes a metal sheetor foil (usually aluminum metal) over-coated with a lithium-containinglayer. Finally, electrochemical cells include an electrolyte which isinterposed between the anode and the cathode. Terminals allow thegenerated electricity to be used in an external circuit. Electrochemicalcells produce electricity via an electrochemical reaction.

For high power application, a plurality of battery cells are utilizedand assembled into a battery module. Moreover, such battery modules caninclude a plurality of metallic (e.g., copper and/or aluminum) coolingfins interspersed between battery cells in a parallel wired battery cellpair. Compression foam pads are typically interspersed between somebattery pairs. It turns out that such battery modules typically exhibittemperature differences between the battery cells. Such temperaturedifferences lead to a reduction in battery module performance with adecrease in battery lifetime. Although the prior art cooling fins workreasonably well in cooling the battery cells, improvements are stilldesirable.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved battery module assemblies anda cooling system to be used therein.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a cooling system for a battery accordingto various embodiments. The cooling system may include a first tube, asecond tube and a middle section which may be formed from thermallyconductive polymer material. The first tube and the second tube may eachbe adapted to transfer coolant from a first end to a second end. Themiddle section may be integral to the first tube on the first side ofthe middle section and integral to the second tube on the second side ofthe middle section. The first tube, the second tube and the middlesection may be operatively configured to draw thermal energy away fromat least one bus bar and corresponding cell tabs for a battery.

The present disclosure further provides a battery having a coolingsystem wherein the battery includes a battery housing, plurality ofbattery cells disposed within the housing and a curved cooling tube.Each battery cell in the plurality of battery cells includes a pair ofcell tabs interconnected to an adjacent pair of cell tabs from aneighboring battery cell via a corresponding bus bar. The curved coolingtube may be adapted to transfer coolant from a first end of the coolingtube to a second end of the cooling tube. It is understood that curvedcooling tube may be longitudinally disposed in part above the batterycells and longitudinally disposed in part under each bus bar.

The invention and its particular features and advantages will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description considered withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure willbe apparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments, and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of battery cells in a battery having a firstembodiment of the cooling system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic partial cross-section of the batteryalong lines A-A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of the cooling system bracket of thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a second embodiment of the coolingsystem of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic, partial cross-section of the secondembodiment of the cooling system along lines B-B in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is an isometric schematic view of a third embodiment of thecooling system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a partial schematic view of a cross section of the thirdembodiment of the cooling system along lines C-C in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a partial schematic view of another cross section of thecooling system in accordance with third embodiment of the coolingsystem.

FIG. 7A is an isometric schematic view of a third embodiment of thecooling system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7B is a partial schematic view of a cross section of the thirdembodiment of the cooling system along lines D-D in FIG. 7A.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein provide detail forillustrative purposes, and are subject to many variations incomposition, structure, and design. It is understood that variousomissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended tocover the application or implementation without departing from thespirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is tobe understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote anyorder, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish oneelement from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote alimitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least oneof the referenced items.

The present disclosure provides a cooling system 12 for a battery 10.With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a battery 10 is shown having cell tabs 18and cell-to-cell bus-bars 22. The battery cell tab (or tab electrode) 18is an extension of a battery cell electrode which extends above the cell15 as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The cell tabs 18 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) andcell-to-cell bus-bars 22 tend to have the most concentrated heatproduction as the battery system 10 operates. Additionally, it isunderstood that the cell tabs 18 and cell-to-cell bus-bars 18 have theleast resistance thermal pass into the cell-core. So cell tabs 18 andcell-to-cell bus-bars present the best area in a battery to effectivelymanage thermal energy.

In order to increase the lifetime and effectiveness of a battery 10, thepresent disclosure provides a cooling system 12 to reduce thetemperature and temperature differences among the different areas of thebatteries. Given that the cell tabs 18 and the cell-to-cell bus bars 22generate the most heat, it is desirable to remove heat from thesebattery components via the cooling system 12 of the present disclosure.With reference again to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of the coolingsystem 12 of the present disclosure is shown where cell tabs 18 areshown above each battery cell and bus bars 22 connect each cell tab. Thecooling system 12 includes a first tube 24 proximate to the firstlateral side 26 of the battery 10 and a second tube 20 proximate to thesecond lateral side 28 of the battery 10. The cooling system 12 of thepresent disclosure directly contacts the battery bus bars 22 in order todissipate heat from the battery bus-bars and the cell tabs 18 asdescribed in the first embodiment herein. Moreover, the cooling system12 of the present disclosure may be made in part, or in whole, bythermally conductive polymer material similar to CoolPoly made byCelanese. It should also be noted that cell tabs 64, 66 of FIG. 2 andtheir counterparts in FIGS. 5, 6B and 7B are understood to have at leastone adjacent pair of cell tabs 68 (shown in FIG. 1) for the purpose ofthis non-limiting example disclosure.

The first and second tubes 24, 20 may be integral to one another via amiddle section 15 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The middle section 15 mayinclude an opening 30 to accommodate the cell tabs 18. It is understoodthat a plurality of openings 30 may be implemented in accordance withthe number of battery cell tabs 18 used in the battery 10. As shown inFIG. 3, a schematic, partial isometric view of the cooling system 12according to the first embodiment is illustrated where the middlesection 15 is formed from a plurality of middle strips 14. The firsttube 24 may be integral to a first side of each middle strip 14 whilethe second tube 20 may be integral to a second side of each middle strip14. In order to provide a unitary cooling system 12, the first tube 24,second tube 20 and middle section 15 may be formed via an injectionmolding process. Alternatively, where the first and second tubes 24, 20are formed from a material which is different from the middle section15, the middle section 15 may be injection molded onto thetubes—optionally, but not necessarily through a two shot injectionmolding process. With reference to the cross section of the coolingsystem 12 shown in FIG. 2, each middle strip 14 of the cooling system 12has an upper face 32 and a lower face 34 (shown in FIG. 2). The upperface 32 of each middle strip 14 is adjacent to a base area 36 for eachbus bar 22. The bus bars 22 of FIGS. 1-3 include a front portion 38, abase area 36, and an end portion 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thefront portion 38 and end portion 40 for each bus bar 22 aresubstantially vertical and are adjacent to a corresponding cell tabwhile the middle area for each bus bar 22 is adjacent to an upper face32 of a middle strip 14 of the cooling system 12. Front portion 38 isadjacent to corresponding first cell tab 64 while end portion 40 isadjacent to corresponding second cell tab 66. The front portion 38 maybe affixed to first cell tab 64 via a weld (such as ultrasonic weldingor laser welding). Similarly, the end portion 40 may be affixed to thesecond cell tab 66 via a weld (such as ultrasonic welding or laserwelding). It is further understood that the base area 36 of bus bar 22may, but not necessarily, be affixed to the middle strip 14 via athermal glue. This arrangement allows for heat in the cell tab and busbar 22 to transfer to the middle section 15 via thermal conduction.

Accordingly, in light of the arrangement between the cooling system 12,the bus bar 22 and the cell tab, thermal energy may be conducted awayfrom the cell tabs 18 and the bus bar 22 as heat from the cell tabs 18and bus bar 22 transfers to the middle strip 14 of the cooling system12. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the first and second tubes 24, 20 may beintegral to the middle section 15 and therefore, the coolant 42 (shownschematically as element 42 in FIG. 1) which flows through the tubechambers 44, 46 may help transfer heat away from the middle section 15and the first and second tubes 24, 20. It is understood that, in thefirst embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 coolant 42 may enter the coolingsystem 12 via a first end 46 of any one of the first and/or second tube24, 20 and the coolant 42 may exit the second end 48 of any one of thefirst and/or second tubes 24, 20. A hose or other liquid passage device(now shown) may be attached to any one or more of the first and/orsecond ends 46, 48 of the first and second tubes 24, 20 to transfercoolant 42 into and out of the cooling system 12. The coolant 42 used inthe first and second tubes 24, 20 may be coolant 42 which is used inother parts of the battery 10/engine or may be coolant 42 which isdedicated to this particular cooling system 12.

Given that the middle section 15 of the cooling system 12 serves to drawheat away from the bus bars 22 and the cell tabs 18, the middle section15 may be formed from a thermally conductive polymeric material such asa CoolPoly thermally conductive plastic which is manufactured byCelanese. The thermally conductive polymeric material for the coolingsystem 12 provides the benefit in that the material enables the coolingsystem to be electrically insulated thereby preventing a short circuitsituation. However, the same material allows for thermal energy to beeasily transferred.

Unlike conventional plastics which are considered thermal insulators,the thermal conductivity of CoolPoly D-series plastics range from 1.0W/mK to 10 W/mK while maintaining the electrical insulation. Thisexceptional level of thermal conductivity in a plastic is 5 to 100 timesthe value of conventional plastics. The optimal level of thermalconductivity for any application depends on the power input, size of thepart and the convection conditions. Therefore, CoolPoly D-Seriescombines thermal conductivity and electrical insulation in standardpellet form suitable for thermoplastic injection molding and otherprocesses (e.g. extrusion).

Accordingly, it is understood that the entire cooling system 12 shown inFIGS. 1-3 may be made from a material such as CoolPoly or the middlesection 15 may be the only area formed by CoolPoly such that the middlesection 15 is injection molded onto the first and second tubes 24, 20.The first and second tubes 24, 20 may therefore be made from differentmaterial such as, but not limited to aluminum. Accordingly, as shown inFIGS. 1-3, the first embodiment of the cooling system 12 of the presentdisclosure attaches to the battery bus-bars and tab components as shownin FIGS. 1 and 3 to enhance the heat transfer effectiveness bytransferring thermal energy away from the cell tabs and bus-bars intothe middle section 15, first and second tubes 24, 20 and coolant 42.Moreover, the cooling system of the present disclosure also providespackaging efficiency in the battery environment.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the present disclosure, a secondembodiment of the cooling system 12 is shown. FIG. 4 illustrates a planview of the second embodiment of the cooling system 12 of the presentdisclosure while FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic, partial cross-sectionof the second embodiment of the cooling system 12 along lines B-B inFIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cooling system 12 according tothe second embodiment is limited to a curved tube 50 having an innerchamber 44″ which is adapted to allow coolant 42 (shown in FIG. 1) topass through the curved tube 50 so that the curved tube 50 may thermallyconduct heat away from the base area 36″ of each bus bar 22″ and thecell tabs 18″ which are also in close proximity to the curved tube 50.The curved tube 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may also be formed from amaterial such as CoolPoly.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the cross-sectional view of the secondembodiment in FIG. 4 is shown along line B-B demonstrating that thecurved tube 50 is disposed just below and adjacent to the base area 36″of each bus bar 22″. The curved tube 50 may, but not necessarily, beattached to the base area 36″ of each bus bar 22″ via a thermal glue.Given that the curved tube 50 changes configuration, the curved tube 50is adapted to receive and expel coolant 42 (shown in FIG. 1) via firstend 46″ and second end 48″ while also able to transfer heat away fromthe base area 36″ of each bus bar 22″ and proximate cell tab 18″ giventhat the tube curves into area just below each bus bar 22″ as shown inFIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, cell tabs 18″ are adjacent to the frontportion 38″ and end portion 40″ for each bus bar 22″. Accordingly, ascell tabs 18″ and bus bars 22″ heat up, the curved tube 50 with coolant42 which travels through the curved tube 50 is operatively configured todraw heat away from the cell tabs 18″ and bus bars 22″ via conductionand convection.

With reference now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a third embodiment of the coolingsystem 12′″ of the present disclosure is illustrated. FIG. 6A is anisometric schematic view of the third embodiment of the cooling system12 in battery 10″ while FIG. 6B is a partial schematic view of a crosssection of the third embodiment cooling system 12 along lines C-C inFIG. 6A. In FIG. 6A, the cell tabs 18′″ are shown disposed in theopenings 30′″ of middle section 15′″. The openings 30′″ defined inmiddle section 15′″ are adapted to receive cell tabs 18′″ as shown. Itis to be understood that cell tabs 18′″ are schematically shown asdashed lines to denote where the cell tabs 18′″ are disposed relative tothe middle section 15′″. The entire cell tab 18′″ structure is not shownso that the configuration of the middle section 15′″ of the coolingsystem 12′″ may be shown. Nonetheless, it is understood that the celltabs 18′″ project in an upward fashion as shown in FIG. 6B and FIG. 1.Similar to the first embodiment, cell tabs 18′″ are understood to extendabove each battery cell and bus bars 22′″ connect each cell tab 18′″similar to that in FIG. 1. The cooling system 12 includes a first tube24′″ proximate to the first lateral side 26′″ of the battery and asecond tube 20′″ proximate to the second lateral side 28′″ of thebattery. The cooling system 12′″ of the present disclosure directlycontacts the battery bus-bars and is coupled to the cell tabs 18′″ viathe battery bus bars 22′″ in order to dissipate heat from the batterybus-bars and the cell tabs 18′″. Moreover, similar to the firstembodiment, the cooling system 12′″ according to the third embodimentmay be made in part, or in whole, by thermally conductive polymermaterial similar to CoolPoly made by Celanese.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C collectively, the first and second tubes 24′″,20′″ of the third embodiment may be integral to one another via a middlesection 15′″ as shown in FIG. 6A. The middle section 15′″ may includeopenings 30′″ to accommodate the cell tabs 18′″. As shown in FIG. 6A, aschematic isometric view of the cooling system 12′″ according to thefirst embodiment is illustrated where the middle section 15′″ is formedfrom a plurality of middle strips 14″″. Unlike the first embodimentwhere the first tube 24′″ may be integral to a first lateral side ofeach middle strip 14′″ while the second tube 20′″ may be integral to asecond lateral side of each middle strip 14′″, the third embodimentprovides a middle section 15′″ which defines a plurality of coolingchannels 58 which extend from the first tube 24′″ to the second tube20′″ as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. As shown in FIG. 6A, the first tube24′″ and second tube 20′″ may be assembled onto the middle section 15′″with an adhesive 42 (shown as an example schematic in FIG. 6A) so thatthe components are securely affixed to one another and so that coolant42 will not leak between the components. It is also understood, thefirst and second tubes 24′″, 20′″ may, but not necessarily, be formedfrom a material which is different from the middle section 15′″. Forexample, the first and second tubes 24′″, 20′″ may be formed fromaluminum while the middle section 15′″ may be formed from the thermallyconductive polymer CoolPoly.

With reference to the cross section of the cooling system 12′″ shown inFIG. 6B, each middle strip 14′″ of the cooling system 12′″ has an upperface 32′″ and a lower face 34′″. The upper face 32′″ of each middlestrip 14′″ is adjacent to a base area 36′″ for each bus bar 22′″. Thebus bars 22′″ of the third embodiment similarly include a front portion38′″, a base area 36′″ and an end portion 40′″. As shown in FIG. 6B, thefront portion 38′″ and end portion 40′″ for each bus bar 22′″ aresubstantially vertical and are adjacent to a corresponding cell tab 18′″while the base area 36′″ for each bus bar 22′″ is adjacent to an upperface 32′″ of a middle strip 14 of the cooling system 12′″. The frontportion 38′″ may be affixed to first cell tab 64′″ via a weld (such asultrasonic welding or laser welding). Similarly, the end portion 40′″may be affixed to the second cell tab 66′″ via a weld (such asultrasonic welding or laser welding). It is further understood that thebase area 36′″ of bus bar 22′″ may, but not necessarily, be affixed tothe middle strip 14′″ via a thermal glue. This arrangement allows forheat in the cell tab 18′″ and bus bar 22′″ to transfer thermal energy tothe middle section 15′″ via conduction. Given that the middle section15′″ allows coolant 42′″ to pass through the middle section 15′″ via thecooling channels 58, the middle section 15′″ may effectively drawthermal energy away from the bus bars 22′″ and the cell tabs 18′″ as thecoolant 42 flows through the cooling channels 58 of the middle section15′″.

It is understood that, in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6B,coolant 42 may enter the cooling system 12′″ via a first end 46′″ of anyone of the first and/or second tube 24′″, 20′″ and the coolant 42 mayexit any other end of the first and/or second tubes 24′″, 20′″. A hoseor other liquid passage device (now shown) may be attached to any one ormore of the first and/or second ends 46′″, 48′″ of the first and secondtubes 24′″, 20′″ to transfer coolant 42 into and out of the coolingsystem 12′″. The coolant 42 used in the first and second tubes 24′″,20′″ may be coolant 42 which is circulated in other parts of the batteryor engine. Alternatively, similar to previous embodiments, the coolant42 in the cooling channels 58 and first and second tubes 24′″, 20′″ ofthe third embodiment may be dedicated to this particular cooling system12′″. It is understood that the coolant (shown as 42 in FIG. 1) may beone of a variety of fluids such as, but not limited to pure water or a50-50 mixture of water and glycol as non-limiting examples.

With reference to FIG. 6C, it is understood that the middle section 15′″of the third embodiment may include an elongated lateral side 19 at eachside of middle section 15′″ which is adjacent to cell tabs 18′″ asshown. This configuration allows for thermal energy to transfer directlyfrom the cell tabs 18′″ to the middle section 15′″ of cooling system12′″. Moreover, an optional clip 25 may be added to a cell tab 18′″ andbus bar 22′″ (as shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 6C). Optionalclip 25 may include a distal end 27 which biases the clip 25 and celltab 18′″ so that the cell tab 18′″ abuts the lateral side of middlesection 15′″. It is understood that the arrangement shown in FIG. 6C isa non-limiting example and that clip 25 may be used on every cell tab18′″.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the cooling system 12″″ according to afourth embodiment is shown where the cooling system 12″″ is formed fromfour different parts: (1) first tube 24″″; (2) middle base 62, (3)second tube 20″″; and (4) middle cover(s) 60. It is understood that, analternative arrangement for the fourth embodiment may allow for thefirst tube 24″″, the second tube 20″″ and the middle base 62 to beintegral to one another thereby forming a unitary piece. Such a unitaryconstruction may be achieved via an injection molding process or thelike. The integral, unitary piece may then be adapted to receive atleast one middle cover 60. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, middle cover 60defines apertures 58″″ to an inner cavity or recess 59 of the middlecover 60 at the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 ofthe middle cover 60. The openings 30 on each side of the middle cover60, the inner recess/cavity 59 of the middle cover 60, the first tube24″″ and the second tube 20″″ are all in fluid communication with oneanother such that coolant 42 (which flows through the apertures 58″″ inthe cover) may flow between the various components to carry awayexcessive thermal energy from the middle cover 60, the bus bar 22″″ andthe cell tabs 18″″. Similar to the construction in the aforementionedthird embodiment, the various components of the fourth embodiment may beaffixed to one another using an adhesive. Adhesives (shown as 43 in FIG.6A) are particularly useful in this application to prevent potentialleakage of coolant 42 between components. Again, as shown in FIG. 7B,the cell tabs 18″″ are adjacent to the bus bar 22″″ while the bus bar22″″ is adjacent to the base area 36″″ of the middle cover 60″″.Therefore, thermal energy is conducted through these components so thattemperatures in the cell tabs 18″″ and the bus bars 22″″ are reduced.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vastnumber of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that theexemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and arenot intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of thedisclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description willprovide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map forimplementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. Itshould be understood that various changes can be made in the functionand arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of thedisclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooling system for a battery comprising: a first tube adapted to transfer coolant; a second tube adapted to transfer coolant; and a middle section integral to the first tube on the first side of the middle section and integral to the second tube on the second side of the middle section.
 2. The cooling system as defined in claim 1 wherein the middle section defines a plurality of openings wherein each of the plurality of openings is operatively configured to accommodate a pair of cell tabs from a battery cell.
 3. The cooling system as defined in claim 2 wherein the middle section is formed from an electrically insulating yet thermally conductive material which is injection molded onto the first and second tubes.
 4. The cooling system as defined in claim 3 wherein the first tube and the second tube are formed from aluminum.
 5. The cooling system as defined in claim 3 wherein the first tube and the second tube are each adapted to receive coolant at a first end.
 6. The cooling system as defined in claim 5 wherein the first tube and the second tube are each adapted to purge coolant at a second end.
 7. A battery having a cooling system, the battery comprising: a battery housing; a plurality of battery cells disposed within the housing wherein each of the plurality of battery cells includes a pair of cell tabs interconnected to an adjacent pair of cell tabs via a corresponding bus bar; and a curved cooling tube adapted to transfer coolant from a first end to a second end, the curved cooling tube being longitudinally disposed in part above the battery cells and longitudinally disposed in part under each bus bar.
 8. The cooling system as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the corresponding bus bars include a base area, a front portion and an end portion wherein the base area is adjacent to a portion of the curved cooling tube.
 9. The battery as defined in claim 8 wherein the front portion of each of the corresponding bus bars is affixed to a first cell tab in front of the bus bar and the end portion of each of the corresponding bus bars is affixed to a second cell tab behind the bus bar.
 10. The battery as defined in claim 9 wherein the cell tabs, the corresponding bus bar, the base area and the curved tube being operatively configured to transfer heat away from the cell tabs and the corresponding bus bar to the curved tube.
 11. The battery as defined in claim 10 wherein the curved tube is formed from thermally conductive yet electrically insulating polymeric material.
 12. The battery as defined in claim 10 wherein the curved tube is adapted to receive coolant at a first end and adapted to purge coolant at a second end.
 13. A cooling system for a battery comprising: a first tube adapted to transfer coolant; a second tube adapted to transfer coolant; and a middle section coupling the first tube and the second tube to each other, the middle section defining a plurality of cooling channels being in fluid communication with the first tube and the second tube.
 14. The cooling system as defined in claim 13 wherein the middle section defines a plurality of openings wherein each of the plurality of openings is operatively configured to accommodate a pair of cell tabs from a battery cell.
 15. The cooling system as defined in claim 13 wherein the middle section is formed from a middle base and at least one middle cover such that the cooling channels are defined in the at least one middle cover of the middle section.
 16. The cooling system as defined in claim 13 wherein the middle section is formed from a single component which defines a plurality of cooling channels, the cooling channels being in fluid communication with the first tube at the first lateral side of the middle section and the cooling channels being in fluid communication with the second tube at the second lateral side of the middle section.
 17. The cooling system as defined in claim 14 wherein the at least one middle cover defines a cavity or a recess which combines the coolant received via the cooling channels.
 18. The cooling system as defined in claim 17 wherein the middle cover, the middle base, the first tube and the second tube are adhesively affixed to one another.
 19. The cooling system as defined in claim 16 wherein the middle section, the first tube and the second tube are adhesively affixed to one another.
 20. The cooling system as defined in claim 14 further comprising a clip operatively configured to secure at least one cell tab of the pair of cell tabs against the middle section. 